Separable garment



Jufly 10, 1951 A. H. EVANS 2,559,953

SEPARABLE GARMENT Filed June 3. 1950 INVENTOR. ADELE H. EVAN5,

ATTORNA'Y.

Patented July 10, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEPARABLE GARMENT v Adele H. Evans, Hollywood, Fla.

Application June 3, 1950, Serial No. 165,940

3 Claims. (01. 2-70) This invention relates to separable and interchangeable garments and is a continuation in part of my co-pending application, Serial No. 31,011, filed June 4, 1948, and resulting in United States Patent No. 2,515,082, issued July 11, 1950.

It is an object of the present invention to provide garments in two sections, such as a skirt and blouse and so constructed as to be assembled in use, as a unitary garment.

A further object of the invention resides in providing a plurality of separable garments, all provided with identical male and female separable slide fasteners, thus permitting the interchanging of garments for purposes of obtaining various style and color combinations.

Another and very important object of the invention resides in providing a pair of garments, such a a waist and a skirt, having a waist hem and a skirt band, with the hem and the band provided with matching male and female slide fasteners, with the male fastener on one garment and the female fastener on the other garment, with each garment provided with the usual side or placket openings and the separable fastener sections extending around the major circumference of the hem and the band and with each terminal end of each fastener section terminating short of the placket openings to provide an area for alterations of the garments without disturbing the slide fastener sections at the waist line.

A further object of the invention resides in the novel manner of mountin the slide fastener section within the skirt band whereby the wearer is protected against chafing contact with the fastener.

Another object of the invention resides in providing means upon the garments whereby any tendency to separate in that area between the terminal ends of the slide fastener is obviated.

The novel features of construction will be more clearly pointed out by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein has been illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein like characters of reference are employed to denote like parts throughout the several figures.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a complete separable garment, spaced apart for purposes of illustration,

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of the waist band sections of the garments, taken on line 22 of Figure 1 and with the garments separated, 7 QFigure 3-is a top plan view of the tirely through the hem 8.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary enlarged section through the skirt waist band.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates a complete separable garment as a whole, embodying in the present instance, a skirt section 6 and a waist section I. The waist and skirt may be of any desirable style or material, with the waist terminating in a Waist hem 8 and with one side of the waist provided with the usual placket opening 9, extending en- Secured around the waist hem 8, for its major circumference, as by stitching, is a companion section of a completely separable slide fastener l0. As clearly shown in Figure 2, the opposite ends of the fastener section I!) terminates short of the placket opening 9, for a purpose to be presently described. A flexible and preferably textile loop H, is secured to the hem 8 adjacent one side of the placket opening 9, for a purpose to be described. The placket opening 9 may be provided with any desirable closure means, such as a separable slide fastener, snap fasteners or the conventional hooks and eyes.

The skirt 6 embodies a relatively wide waist band l2, terminating at one side of the skirt in the usual placket openin I 3, as is customary. The placket opening I3 is provided with any desirable closure means, such as the conventional slide fastener, snap fasteners or hooks and eyes. The waist band i2 is provided with a companion slide fastener section M, for interlocking connection with the fastener section IE3 'of the waist hem. The section 14 is secured to the inside circumference of the waist band l2, as by stitching and extends around the major inner circumference of the band l2, with the terminal ends of the fastener section I4 terminating short of the placket opening l3. As clearly shown, the slide fastener section I4 is positioned below the top marginal edge of the waist band l2 so that, when the garments are in assembled. relation with the sections in and I4 fully engaged, the fastener will be completely hidden from view and a neat fitting garment havin the appearance of a one piece dress will be presented. It is highly important, that the male and female sections 59 and M of the slide fastener be identically arranged on all garments of a particular size for interchangeable use, since to shift the arrangement, will result in an improper engagement of the fastener sections.

One terminal end of the waist band it is provided with a projecting tongue l5, having a button hole l6, for detachable overlapping connection with a button l1, secured to the outer side 3 of the opposite end of the band I2. At an identical point upon the inner side of the band I2, a button I8 is provided, for detachable engagement by the loop I I.

Means has been provided to protect the wearer from chafing contact with the slide fastener, consisting of an inner band 19, that is co-extensive with the slide fastener and of a width to extend above the engaging teeth of the fastener. The band 19 is preferably stitched to the waist band [2 coincident with the stitching in place of the slide fastener section M.

In the use of the garments illustratedthe operator, having put the waist and skirt on, grasps the slide 20 of the fastener and engages it'with the pilot pin 2! upon the terminal end of the fastener section Hi, shifting the slide 2!! around the waist to the terminal ends of the sections H) and M, after which the slide is locked in the usualmanner. In this interlocked engagement, the slide fastener is entirely positioned below the marginal edge of the waist band 12, completely hidden from view and lying entirely between the .band 12 and the inner band 19.

The primary purpose of terminating the sections 10 and I4 short of the placket openings 9 and l3, is to leave sufficient exposed area of the garment for alterations, without disturbing the fastener sections l0 and M. It is intended, that garments of any particular size, shall be equipped with slide fasteners for that particular 'sizeand, since an individual willobviously purchase a garment of a size best fitted to her waist measurement, it follows, that any alterations will naturally be relatively small and the exposed area of the waist band I2 and hem 8 will be adequate for such alterations. Where alterations are not necessary, there is a possibility that there may be a tendency for the connected garments to pull apart in that area between the terminal ends of the fastener sections. To avoid this contingency, the loop H is engaged over the button l8, prior to the closing of the plackets and the tongue overlapped with the opposite end of the band l2 and engaged with its button I '1, presenting a smooth closure at this point.

The invention is particularly desirable for use on the so-called sun dresses, employing a skirt and a bra top. A jacket or dress top with peplum tion is further highly desirable for use upon one or two toned slip combinations, for instance, a

white top and a black bottom or, two complete slips may be purchased, one white and one black and the combinations possible equal four different garments. For instance, a dark skirt would require a dark slip, while a white waist would require the white top. The separable feature is particularly desirable from the standpoint of washing or cleaning, enabling the light and dark sections to be separately washed without danger of the dye running, as is the case with the well known black and white slips now in use. The bottom sections of the slips could also be used separately as a petticoat.

The invention is also adaptable for use on shorts, slacks, playsuits, etc., with blouse and bra top interchangeable. Aside from womens apparel, the invention readily lends itself to mens wear, since the slide fasteners can be easily se- .'cured.around the inner side of thewaist'band of trousers and a lower marginal hem formed upon a shirt.

Considerable savings can be effected by persons who from necessity must budget their clothing expenses since, as pointed out, the purchase of two complete garments of diiferent design and color, will enable an interchange of the waists and skirts to provide four combinations of dresses. As an example of the money saving in a wardrobe, a person could purchase 2 dresses, 2 sun dresses, 1 blouse, 1 skirt, 1 slacks and 1 shorts and with the many interchangeable combinations possible with such a wardrobe, a considerable saving in clothing costs would result over the cost of-a comparable number of garments.

The assembled garments presents a neat waist band, free from bulges or wrinkles, so noticeable in the conventional skirt and waist combinations where the waist carriesithe usual tail section that must be stuffed under the skirt band. The separable slide fastener eliminates the objectionable waist tail and results in a sizable savings in the cost of material and provides a unitary garment that will not separate or pull apart when in use. The device is a distinct and valuable advance in the clothing art and is highly desirable from the standpoint of economy and perfect fitting garments. The cost of the slide fastener and its assembly upon the garments, is a negligible one as compared to the saving in tail material and the satisfaction derived from perfect fitting garments and the economy in assembling a multiple wardrobe at a minimum of cost.

It is to be understood, that the invention is not limited to any particular combination of garments nor .to the particular manner of assembly and attachment of the separable fastener ele ments, but that it includes within its purview, whatever changes fairly come within either the terms or the spirit of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. separable apparel that includes an upper and a nether garment, the upper garment having a waist hem and the nether garment having a relatively wide waist band, the garments provided with vertically aligned placket openings, a separable slide fastener including interlocking male and female sections, one section secured around the circumference of the waist hem and the other section secured around the circumference of the waist band at the lower edge thereof, the edges of the placket opening in the said nether garment having co-operating fastening means therefor terminating below the waist band the sections having their opposite ends terminating short of their corresponding placket openings "for leaving an area of the garment on eachside of the placket opening free for alteration purposes and means forconnecting the free portions of the waist band and the waist hem together between the' overlapping ends of the slide fastener sections when the slide fastener sections are connected and means for connecting the free ends of the waist band together.

2. separable apparel that includes an upper and a nether garment, the upper garment having -a waist hem, the nether garment having a relatively wide waist band, each garment provided with vertically aligned placket openings, a separlower, edge, thereof with its terminal ends terminating short of its correspondingplacket opening, the other section stitched around the inner circumference of the waist band at the lower portion thereof for its major circumference with its terminal ends terminating short of its corresponding placket opening, the edges of the placket opening in the nether garment having cooperating fastening means therefor terminating below the waist band the terminations of the slide fastener ends leaving an area of the garments on each side of the placket opening free for alteration purposes, means for connecting the free portions of the waist band and the waist hem together between the overlapping ends-of the slide fastener sections when the slide fastener sections are connected, means for connecting the free ends of the waist band together and an inner band stitched around the major inner circumference of the waistband to completely overlie the separable fastener and co-extensive therewith.

3. A combination apparel embodying an upper and a nether garment separable with respect to each other, a waist hem formed upon the upper garment and a waist band formed upon the nether garment, each of the garments provided with a placket opening in alignment with each other, a separable slide fastener formed in two interlocking male and female sections, one section being stitched to the hem of the upper garment for the major circumference thereof and one section stitched to the inner side of the waist band of the lower garment below its upper marginal edge and extending around the band for the major portion of its circumference, each of the sections having its terminal ends terminated short of the corresponding placket opening for leaving an area of each garment free for adjustment purposes without disturbing the slide fastener, an inner band stitched around the inner circumference of the waist band and extending above the slide fastener and being co-extensive therewith, connecting means between the ends of the waist band and connecting means between the hem and the waist band in that area left for adjustment purposes.

ADELE H. EVANS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,130,690 Lemoine Sept. 20, 1938 2,152,575 Urbon Mar. 28, 1939 2,312,860 Addonisio Mar. 2, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 469,135 Great Britain July 20, 1937 

